Towards healthy settings for people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) depend on their environment for support to live healthily. The characteristics of healthy settings for people with ID are unknown. This study aims to conceptualize healthy settings for people with ID by conducting an international and multidisciplinary concept mapping study. As theoretical framework the settings approach, an ecological model with a whole system focus toward health promotion, was used. The integrative mixed-methods approach of this study involved concept mapping with researchers specialized in healthcare for people with ID and researchers specialized in healthy settings. The 41 participants generated statements that were later sorted and rated. Findings encompass 13 clusters relating to the social environment, the physical environment and societal preconditions. Specific factors of healthy settings for people with ID include: (i) universal design of the physical environment, (ii) the role of care professionals in the social environment to empower people with ID, (iii) possibilities for care providers to contribute to a health-promoting setting and (iv) preconditions that allow people to engage in society. These factors can be used in strategies to apply the approach in practice and give directions to put in place policies on developing enabling environments and decreasing health inequities.

Implementation of a program to support direct support professionals to promote a healthy lifestyle for people with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities

“…Additionally, the involvement of family and others in a healthy lifestyle for people with ID needs improvement. This social network can be supportive in adapting to the needs of people with ID by focusing on their strengths and, for example, including them in decision-making [ 47 ].…”

Exploring views on medical care for people with intellectual disabilities: an international concept mapping study

“…Péladeau and Dagenais [ 44 ] contend that reversing the order of multidimensional scaling followed by hierarchical cluster analysis has major advantages over the original order. Because the software used was limited to the original order of analysis, this study assessed additional sensitivity to sampling variation through a Jackknife procedure, which has been applied in a similar study before [ 45 ]. Moreover, we opted to add additional qualitative analyses of the raw statements and of the final cluster map to better understand and represent the collected data and prevent loss of information.…”

Improving Environmental Capacities for Health Promotion in Support Settings for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Inclusive Design of the DIHASID Tool

“…Lastly, some caution should be exercised about implementing this tool in other countries. The type of questioning and general themes are expected to be relevant in other countries, as the tool was built on the basis of an existing international concept mapping study [39]. However, the clarity of the questions was tested in Dutch, and the tool's comprehensibility and usability were tested in the support organization in the Netherlands.…”

“…The research team developed a draft asset mapping tool based on the Healthy Settings for People with Intellectual Disabilities (HeSPID) framework. This framework was built on two studies in which academics, people with ID, and proxies for people with ID developed a framework of themes and assets relevant for physical activity and nutrition in ID support settings [39,40]. The framework consists of 14 environmental-asset themes relating to people, places, and preconditions for healthy living.…”

“…Firstly, the aim of the DIHASID tool and an overview of the themes were introduced. Secondly, each theme was introduced, with a description based on the HeSPID framework [39,40]. Then, for each theme, the questions were read aloud, and the participants were asked to provide feedback on how representative the questions were.…”